Women's 2018-19 Indoor Track and Field Season Outlook

Sierra Diaz '20

Nov 26, 2018

WILLIAMSTOWN, MA––After winning Indoor Division III New England's and placing 2nd at the national championships last year, their best finish since 2007, the Ephs are excited to return to fashion another successful season.

The cross country women are coming off of a strong season, finishing in 7th place at nationals. Riding the success of her final cross country season, captain Emily Harris '19 is ready to compete the same way in this upcoming indoor season. Harris placed 58th at cross-country nationals. Emma Hermann '20 also had a great cross-country season, finishing in 46th place at nationals, the top finish for the Eph's. In her 2017-18 season, Hermann was the 10,000 meter All-New England's champion and national qualifier. Both women will contribute a great amount to the long distance events.

Audrey Rustad '20 and Brianna Bourne '21 also had successful cross country seasons. Both are national qualifiers in the mile and 1500 meter races, respectively, and hope to extend their successes. Anna Passanante '20, who was abroad for her cross country season, is a multiple time All-American and will come back strong and ready to compete. These women, including New England DIII scorer Leah Rosenfeld '20, will be key performers in the middle distance events.

As cross country was going strong, the sprint/power side of the team was training hard in any facilities they could find. With their indoor track under renovation until January, the Ephs had to be creative with the spaces available. However, this did not stop captain Kennedy Green '19 from leading a strong, but young, sprint squad. Green found success last year, coming away with two All-American honors in the 60 meter and 100 meter dashes. In addition to short-sprints, the Ephs plan to excel in the long sprints. Megan Powell '20 plans to continue her accomplishments in the 60 meter, 200 meter, and especially the 400 meter, an event in which she is a national qualifier. In addition to the individual 400 meter, Powell, along with Ella Dunn '21 and Davis Collison '21, gained All-American status last year in the 4x400, claiming their title as the 4th best relay team in the country. Although abroad for the fall, Powell, Sierra Loomis and Ally Isley, all '20, will return to training in the winter to continue their successes in the sprinting and hurdling events.

The Ephs also show their extreme strength in the field events. Emma Egan and Summer-Solstice Thomas, both '20, will lead the high jump squad and continue to reign as multiple time All-Americans. Not only are Egan and Thomas successful in high jump, but also in the pentathlon. Thomas, the new pentathlon school record holder, and Egan also gained All-American status in the indoor pentathlon. Captain Caity Ubl '19 had an extremely successful outdoor season, gaining All-American status in the heptathlon. She expects to bring that same talent to the pentathlon in indoor track, having the best final season she can. Izabelle Ith '21 also showed much success in her first year as a multi, gaining many points for the team.

The horizontal jumps, having lost no seniors last year and training hard through the fall, expect to have a great season. Sierra Diaz '20, Cailin Stollar '21, and captain Kene Odenigbo '19 all had incredible seasons in the triple jump. Their hard work led all three women to have huge PRs of over 30 centimeters each. In last year's NESCACs, the Ephs championed and got 4 out of the top 7 spots in the triple jump. In long jump, Ith had an incredible season ending with an All-American finish. She is joined by Astia Innis '20 and Kelsie Hao '21, two powerful women who are NESCAC scorers and will contribute many points in the long jump throughout the season.

The pole vault squad is coming back stronger than ever. Lead by captain Maggie Murphy '19, the women plan to do big things. Katie Loftus '19, who was studying away at Oxford last year, will return this winter to join Hao and Murphy in flying over bars at new heights. Although young, the throwing squad is focused on their upcoming season. The squad, led by Mazie Alexander '21, features multiple new throwers. They anticipate a strong season, showing their progress in the shot put and weight throws.

With a strong group of first-years, the Ephs will strive to continue their competitiveness in the indoor season, looking towards the Division III New England and NCAA titles. On the upcoming season, head coach Nate Hoey notes, "We are really looking forward to the season. The team is excited for the opportunity to be with each other and training with each other on a daily basis. We are excited, not for what may happen at the end of it, but for each individual day and the interaction with teammates. The fall has been going really well. The energy level of the team is tremendous and there is an excitement each day at practice. Our goal remains to be present, engaged, and work to the best of our ability in the moment.The most important thing for us as a team, is to continue to be present each day within each training session and to support our teammates. To positively push each other and to consistently be present for each other. We want to enjoy every aspect of this journey and dance."

The Ephs begin their indoor season at Smith College on December 1st. They plan to approach the meet as a rust-buster and as a way to get their bodies on a track again. The meet will begin at 11:00AM.